Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

Many and interesting are the incidents recorded of the adventures of the early discoverers of America. The coolness with which they appropriated everything worth taking, and claimed the New World for the Old, was most extraordinary, and somewhat ridiculous to the mind of the twentieth century people.

There was amongst these adventurers a man who had practised law in San Domingo, named Martin Enciso, who eventually became quite noted for his exploits.

One of his first expeditions was a very remarkable one. Those who had gone forth before him had gone against the living; he went forth to rob the dead.

He had been induced to give up his law practice by the famous Ojeda, and fitting out two brigantines, he turned their prows towards the mainland, and cast anchor at Carthagena. Whilst here he was told by the Indians that some distance to the West there was the Province of Zenu, which was the general burial place of all the Indian tribes in the country.

Now as the Indians decorated their dead with their most precious ornaments, Enciso concluded that immense wealth could be procured by the digging for it, and set sail from Carthagena for Zenu to take possession of the place, and search for the hidden treasure.

But on landing at Zenu he found himself opposed by two powerful chiefs at the head of their warriors. Nothing daunted by this show of opposition, he at once proceeded to lay claim to the country in the name of Ferdinand, King of Spain, according to the form laid down by that clever, but avaricious, monarch.

The Indian chiefs listened attentively to the document which Enciso read, and had interpreted to them, and then, with very commendable logic replied: They fully believed that part of the document which declared there was but one God, but could not accept the Pope of Rome as His representative on the earth; and if this Pope, of whom they spoke, had really given their country to the King of Spain — well, he must have been drunk to do such a thing, when it was not his to give; and the King of Spain himself must have been mad to ask at the hands of the Pope that which belonged to others.

They also added that they were lords of that land, and would own no other sovereign, and if the King of Spain came there to take possession of their country, they would cut off his head and put it on a pole, as that was their usual mode of dealing with their foes.

Enciso, who himself related the story in his account of his travels, then threatened them with war and slavery. But they pointed out to him a row of grizzly heads on poles, and bade him depart from their land, unless he wished to be treated in like manner.

All this failed to impress Enciso. This was the country where gold could be taken in nets from the rivers, so he had been told, and here was buried untold wealth, and he meant to take possession of it. He routed the Indians, and searched the tombs, but gained little for his trouble, and was eventually very glad to take to his ships, and to get out of the range of the poisoned arrows of the Indians.

I have in my mind an expedition of a totally different nature to the foregoing — an expedition which contrasts strongly with it from start to finish.

God sent forth His beloved Son to claim the world for Himself; but there is this great difference between God claiming this world and the Castilian King claiming the Western Hemisphere. This world belonged to God; it was His, for He made it, but it had rebelled against His authority, and refused to own His sway. So He sent His Son — the Heir to win it back again. But all His ways in this wondrous mission were ways of tenderness and grace. He did not seek to subdue men by flaming sword and unsparing vengeance, but by perfect love He sought to win their hearts. He came to claim their heart’s allegiance, but that was not all. In order to gain this He brought them blessings, the greatness of which could never have entered their most exalted dreams.

But men were dead towards God — dead in trespasses and sins. So that the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ was really toward the dead.
“We in death were lying,
 Lost in hopeless gloom.”
But Jesus came even to where we were; and, blessed fact, He died that we might live.

He came, not to rob us, but to enrich us. Not to take from us this world, where all is marred by death; but to give us an inheritance in a land where neither blight of sin, nor shade of sorrow can ever come.

Oh, it is well with those who do not resist Him. It is wisdom indeed to bow to His claims and own Him as Lord.

But we do not see the world at large putting the crowns upon His brow, and laying their swords at His feet. Alas, the world still refuses God’s claims and rejects His grace, and the only consequence of this can be — judgment.

But have you yielded to the Lord? If not, do it to-day. Let your heart become His kingdom — the place where He can rule without a rival. Haul down the world’s flag — the flag of selfish ambition, or whatever else it is that has held you under its sway, and live henceforward for Him who died and rose again.

For this loving, living Saviour, the risen Christ of God, we claim you to-day.
“Follow Him,
 Say ‘No’ to self,
 And own Him Lord.”